Prague Spring Flashcards
What was Alexander Dubcek’s position and when was he put into power?
First Secretary of the Czech Communist Party. January 1968.
What were Dubcek’s beliefs?
He was a devout Communist, he was committed to the Warsaw Pact. But he believed in ‘‘Socialism with a human face’.
When did the Prague Spring begin?
April 1968
What were Dubcek’s reforms?
- Censorhip relaxed and criticism of government was allowed.
- Trade unions given more power gnd the government’s control of industry was reduced.
- More power given to Czech regional governments
- Trade with the West increased.
- Czech people given more freedom to travel abroad.
- The idea of having multi-party elections was discussed, buy they emphasised this wouldn’t happen for a long time.
Who replaced Krushchev in 1968?
Leonid Brezhnev
Why did Brezhnev dislike Dubcek’s reforms?
Warsaw Pact countries would want to leave as well.
Romania refused to attend Warsaw Pact meetings.
Yugoslavian leader, Tito, refused to accept control from Moscow.
What made Brezhnev take action against Dubcek?
Brezhnev ordered his troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia. Dubcek invited Ceausescu of Romaina and Tito of Yugoslavia to Prague for talks.
What happened on 20 August 1968?
500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia, thereby ending the Prague Spring.
What happened to Alexander Dubcek?
He was arrested, sent to Moscow and ordered to reverse his reforms. In 1969, he was dismissed from office and replaced by Gustav Holst.
Who was Jan Palach?
A 20-year-old student who set himself om fire in protest against the Soviet occupation of his country. He died three days later.
What happened on 26 September 1968?
Soviet paper, Pravda, set out the Brezhnev Doctrine.
What did the Brezhnev Doctrine state?
The actions of any communist country affected all others. So if one threatens the rest, it is those countries’ duty to stop them.
This really meant that Communist countries would be prevented from making reforms to make their country more liberal.
What happened in 1948?
The Soviet Union supported a coup in Czechoslovakia, which removed all non-Communists from power and established a pro-Soviet government under Klement Gottwald.
What was Czech life like before the Prague Spring?
Secret police was used to maintain control.
The economy was run for the USSR’s benefit - little was left for the Czech people.
There was no freedom of speech and lots of censorhip in the media.
Between 1949-54, purges ordered by Stalin were carried out against democratic leaders, military leaders, Jews, Catholics, high-ranking Communists and people with ties to the West.
People began to protest against the lack of freedom.
How did other countries react to the Prague Spring?
Yugoslavia and Romania condemned the invasion.
The Communist parties of Italy and France cut links to Moscow.
East Germany and Poland welcomed their actions.
The USA and the West were outraged.
